Transparent slide for the examination of liquid specimens

ABSTRACT

A transparent plastic slide having a plurality of covered examination chambers defined between generally parallel and uniformly spaced sidewalls integral with the slide, to hold specimen liquid in layers of substantially uniform depth for examination. Each chamber is formed as a laterally opening pocket having a semi-circular edge wall and an open side facing toward one edge of the slide, and a channel extends from each open side to the edge of the slide. The sidewalls are sufficiently close together to cause specimen liquid to be drawn into, and to fill, the chamber by capillary action when a quantity of the liquid is placed in the channel at the open side, such capillary action being sufficient to hold the liquid in the chamber when the edge of the slide is tapped gently against a suitable surface to remove excess liquid from the channel.



1. A slide for use in the examination of liquid specimens of urine,spinal fluid, sputum, blood or the like, said slide comprising: anelongated rectangular plate of thin and relatively stiff transparentplastic having flat upper and lower surfaces; a plurality of examinationchambers spaced apart longitudinally of said plate in the centralportion thereof and each having an open side spaced a substantialdistance from, and facing toward, one longitudinal edge of the plate,each of said chambers being defined by top and bottom sidewalls that aregenerally parallel to each other and to said upper and lower surfaces,and a semi-circular edge wall between said sidewalls and extendingaround the chamber from one end of said open side to the other endthereof, said sidewalls and said edge wall being integral with saidplate; an open-topped channel extending from each of said open sidesacross the plate to said one longitudinal edge thereof, and defined byextensions of said bottom sidewall and the opposite end portions of saidedge wall, said top sidewalls having free edges overlying said opensides of said chambers; and the spacing of said sidewalls beingsubstantially uniform and within the range of 0.004 to 0.020 of an inch,whereby specimen liquid placed in a channel at the open side of achamber will be drawn into and held in the chamber by capillary action,and excess liquid can be removed from the channel by tapping saidlongitudinal edge gently against a surface without removing the liquidfrom the chamber.
 2. A slide as defined in claim 1 wherein said spacingof said sidewalls at said open side is within the range of 0.004 to0.012 of an inch.
 3. A slide as defined in claim 1 wherein said slide isof a one-piece plastic molding with said top walls, said sidewalls andsaid edge wall integral with the remainder of the slide.
 4. A slide foruse in the examination of liquid specimens, said slide comprising: athin flat plate having flat side surfaces; at least one examinationchamber defined in said plate as a thin, flat pocket having an open sidespaced a substantial distance from, and facing toward, one edge of saidplate, said chamber being defined between two generally parallel anduniformly spaced sidewalls formed by said plate, and an edge wallextending between said sidewalls, at least one of said sidewalls beingtransparent; one of said sidewalls having a free edge overlying saidopen side, and the other of said sidewalls extending beyond said openside to said one edge and forming a supporting surface for receiving aquantity of specimen liquid to be examined; and the space betwen saidsidewalls being within the range of 0.004 to 0.020 of an inch andsufficiently narrow to cause the liquid to be drawn into and held in thechamber by capillary action.
 5. A slide as defined in claim 4 whereinsaid edge wall is smoothly curved around said chamber.
 6. A slide asdefined in claim 5 wherein said plate is of elongated rectangular shape,and a plurality of identical examination chambers are formed in saidplate in longitudinally spaced relation thereon, with a channelextending from the open side of each chamber to said edge, the extensionof said other sidewall of each of said chambers forming the bottom of achannel.
 7. A slide as defined in claim 4 wherein said plastic is a typehaving high wettability.
 8. A slide as defined in claim 4 wherein saidsidewalls diverge slightly at a preselected angle toward said open side.